How the Carolina Panthers can be a blueprint for Bears in building offensive line

The Chicago Bears need to find protection for quarterback Caleb Williams – that’s for certain. The Bears boast the 4th most cap space in the entire NFL and the question now becomes: How much do you pay for an offensive lineman?

NFL on CBS analyst Charles Davis joined the Bears on the Marquee Podcast from the NFL Scouting Combine to share why the price of the offensive linemen – specifically a guard – is rising more and more.

“You can’t overpay for guys who are pretty good,” Davis said. “If they’re good enough to do it, we are there, because right now, those records inside – like a Mason Graham from Michigan – they’re beating up people inside. You better have those people to stand up to him.”

The best example of “bang for your buck” was the 2024 Carolina Panthers. The Panthers signed guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis to help build their interior line while also providing protection for quarterback Bryce Young. Hunt signed a 5-year, $100 million deal with $44 million fully guaranteed and Lewis signed a 4-year, $53 million deal with $26 million fully guaranteed

“How many people said, ‘God, you overpaid for those guards. You’re overpaying.’ Guess what? Bryce Young, when he came back off of being benched, he played much better and those guards were a big help,” Davis said.

With a second-year quarterback in Caleb Williams and a first-year head coach in Ben Johnson, Davis believes that while the Bears are in a rebuild, they should aim to win now.

“Things get better fast in this league. If you get the right people, right things and off you go. Minnesota wasn’t supposed to be that good last year. How’d they do?” Davis said.